Completed
MyGenericFace
16 people found this review helpful
May 25, 2021
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 9.5

This Drama has top-notch Witty Chemistry *No Spoilers*

At the heart of this drama, it is about characters that examine their feelings of inadequacy.

At first, for me, the start of episode one was not very intriguing but before it was over and how it developed had me HOOKED.

The show checks all the marks of great storytelling, as it weaves through each episode; even most of the small details presented are there for a reason. The writers are not sloppy by just incorporating something random for humor’s sake. Yes, some of the elements in the story are cliche, but it is done in a most tasteful way. The cliches are presented in a way that makes the viewer laugh at the cliched scenes rather than roll our eyes at them. It's not cringy.

That being said, this story isn't always predictable but the show forges its own way as it presents characters that don’t always make the decisions we expect them to make, which makes for an interesting watch. The characters in the show are naturally connected in an authentically comical way. If you like a somewhat over-dramatic taste of comedy, this may be for you.

The chemistry between the leads really comes out in their witty bickering. It is fun to watch and doesn't leave the viewer with a headache. (Just about every scene is meme material.) The casting is spot-on, as they deliver eccentric and quirky characters in a natural manner.

One thing I find myself not caring for is the music. Although a lot of the OSTs fit the work, I find that some of the soundtracks are not my personal preference. But for the casting, the script and production, I can overlook it.

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Completed
PHope
2 people found this review helpful
Jun 28, 2021
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 5.0

Good Enough

Japanese Drama " Renai Mangaka " is a well paced romance. The drama has a smooth structure, though most of the twists and turns were predictable.

The romance doesn't start right from the beginning, as the two meet in an odd setting and their relationship starts on an even odder note. The short dating adventures of the female lead were all enjoyable and left room for the two main leads to get to know each other and bond on a deeper level, though the love confession was a bit rushed. The ending episode was also a letdown, as it was a bit too much. However, the family drama was enjoyable and the little boy adorable. The side characters were interesting too.

Finally, the performances were great by everyone in the cast.

So, overall, seven out of ten.

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Completed
Moonlight
3 people found this review helpful
Jan 18, 2022
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

レンアイ漫画家

This drama is about a guy who is called Karibe Seichiroo he is a very smart and genious manga artist, who is shy and not good with socialising or making new friends. One day, Seiichiro meets his late-brother's former girlfriend Kuon Aiko and he askes her to be his girlfriend but not in real life, only as a manga pseudo romance partner.
This drama was fun to watch , although some parts were boring to watch. I like the characters especially Yoshioka Riko who has stared to many fun dramas. If you like a light fun comedy drama you will like this too ^^
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Completed
Shasha
1 people found this review helpful
Feb 3, 2024
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

Gruff + brawn = sunset cuteness overload

I have watched too many korean dramas. So much so I recognize the usual tropes and know their outcome. The problem is, I have been applying the same logic to japanese dramas. And have been repeatedly surprised. But still, I keep expecting the korean style outcome when exes or professional rivals are concerned, which luckily, never come. Japanese romcoms are the only dramas/films where the expected evil/mean antagonist never appears!

This one has been the same. It is a story of a burly mangaka who has no life outside drawing mangas. He is stuck, manga storywise and decides to employ a down-on-her luck women to act out different romance situations. At the same time, he is given custody of his nephew. The three of them first clash and then slowly become a family without realizing it.

Frankly, I almost dropped this a few times: the first being 30min into the first episode when her cringy behaviour was too much to bear for me. I soldiered on when the repetition of romance situation under his control in real life become too immoral for my taste. I kept telling myself: this is a drama, it needs ambiguous and difficult situations in order for the plot to move forward. Fortunately, these two issues disappeared after a few episodes and we are left with usual romcom tropes: the ex who comes back, the mother thinking of taking her son away, a rival mangaka, a stalkerish victim of first fake romance situations. Every time one of these characters showed up, I was filled with feelings of foreboding, expecting a difficult and sad outcome. And every time I was surprised when that did not happen.

There is not one single mean character is japanese romcoms. I love it but I don't think I can ever get used to it.

The cast was perfect: the ML is hottest j actor around, his sexy gruffness is so irresistible. Since it was based on a manga, I was pleasantly surprised that the manga mannerisms and exaggerated grimaces were toned down to a bearable level. The kids were the cutest.

This is a highly bingeable drama, I had a lot of fun watching it. I only wished I remembered that japanese romcoms are the sweetest dramas ever and that nobody is really evil in them: that would have saved me from some unnecessary stress! Just watch it if you need a pick me up!!!!

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Completed
Xenoknight
1 people found this review helpful
Jun 26, 2021
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

Story line is great

At first, I just want to test this one. But when I started, I can't stop. It was funny as well as interesting.
Some plot are not satisfying but overall it was more than okay.

It let me experience a little about life of Mangaka, which I first got from Bakuman.

Lately I'm falling in love with Japan culture, that's why I'm watching J-Drama and movies and this one is one the list I like watching.

Main Actor, he's ok, acting is spot on. Main actress, funny (I like that) and acting is good, not that pretty but which was spot on with her role.

If you're finding funny, sweet love story, just go for this one. You won't regret I hope.

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Completed
rairamegumi
1 people found this review helpful
Jun 29, 2021
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

Great story great acting

The story idea is quite absurd but in good way...it's unique, for manga readers like me, it's fun to know how the creators found their idea for their comics, it makes me feel thankful for all manga creators...the relationship between characters is great...

Overall, it's a great dorama...

The male lead is not a flower boy type, I didn't like him in the beginning since I like ikemen, but his acting hooked me...

The female lead is nice, her acting is good, but not as good as the male..

The boy, male's lead, has a great acting...he is good in delivering his lonely character...but the girl is too tall for him...lol

The mangaka rival is hilarious, she is not as I thought...

The editor also gave great contribution, also I found that the stalker is funny...lol

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Completed
ArekVJ
1 people found this review helpful
Jun 22, 2021
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.5

Looks can be deceiving

I watched a Jdrama after a long long time, and I couldn't be more glad that I watched this lovely, light hearted Rom-Com drama. Probably the best plots I have come across in a while, although cliched still, very well directed, enough to make it original. Also I loved the fact that two things have been specifically emphasised in this. drama. "Looks can be decieving", & "Never change who you are and your originality to impress the world". Among the few Jdramas that has an actual romantic plot and doesn't depict romance as only sex.
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Completed
Scrlt_Pimpernel
1 people found this review helpful
Jul 15, 2021
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

I Need To Read More Romance Manga!

This Jdrama gave me renewed hope in Japanese rom-coms. Usually Jdramas tend to be campy and over the top for me. Don’t get me wrong, this one has its moments too. However, the actors seem to be aware of this and it comes off as laugh-out-loud rather than cringe. I liked that the actor they chose for the main lead was not a stereotype “flower boy”. He was very masculine, gruff, and not your typical Japanese Romantic lead. He looked like he should be working on a fishing boat, not a Mangaka. According to his bio, he is acting against type in this drama, but it works well! His acting and chemistry with our FL is stellar. And our female lead?? Comic genius! Her facial expressions and tone may seem too obvious at first, but what a great foil to our ML! The kid is heartbreaking at times and yet lovable. He has great acting chops as well. Overall I am so happy to have read a review article of this drama and gave it a chance. I would say it rivaled any Kdrama I’ve seen recently, and that’s very high praise indeed.

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Completed
virgievirgie
1 people found this review helpful
Jul 19, 2021
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
7/18/2021

I was introduced to this drama by a MDL editorial article. I am glad more J-Dramas are recommended, otherwise, I wouldn't know where to find good ones. I am usually pretty picky about J-Dramas because most of them are either an adaptation from a manga or anime, and the acting and storyline are too over-the-top for my taste; or the FL is one of those naive, innocent, shy girls who has never touched a boy in her life. These are not my cup of tea.

Plot: I find the plot summary pretty interesting about a pseudo-romance for a manga. However, after watching the first two episodes, it became quite clear that this pseudo-romance is quite unethical and hurtful. I am glad that after the first initial episodes, the story gets better and it moves a little farther away from this hurtful premise. The plot is quite predictable throughout the show in regards to the development of the main romance, past romance, to the challenges faced by ML as a manga artist. I do enjoy the last episode quite a bit and it's a little less-predictable than I thought.

Characters: I am glad to watch a FL that is straight-forward, independent and not act like a little naive little girl. I've watched so many dramas that a 29-year-old woman acts like she's 16. It didn't happen here. She is quite likable and her acting is not anime-like over-the-top. ML's introverted, anti-social character could be difficult for some to get used to in the beginning. But he has great character development. I especially like his awkward, adorkable smile and grins. Even though he looks hawt int he last episode, his smile seems a little "slimy". I like ML's dorky look more. The child actor also did a great job. He's so cute and I love his shy smile as well. The supporting cast did a decent job and there isn't anyone too annoying.

Romance: The romance of the lead characters is nicely developed though can be predictable. I enjoy their contrasting personality and their funny banter. FL brings out the best of ML through their little fights. I still think the kissing should be a little better, esp. when it's their third kiss and it's not a surprising one. It's 2021 and I hope to see less fish-kissing in J-dramas, K-drams and C-dramas. It took a while for it to happen, but that awkward initial start of a relationship is super cute. I wish to see more of that but those moments were hard to come by. Since J-dramas are quite short, I am glad the secondary romance didn't take up too much of the time.

This is a simple, cute and light-hearted drama. This is the palate cleanser that I need after watching the more intense "Legend of FuYao" (which I recommend wholeheartedly!).

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Completed
Sugar
0 people found this review helpful
Feb 5, 2024
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 5.5

Fast-paced, well-crafted, and entertaining, with minor flaws.

Renai Mangaka manages to weave a heartwarming and engaging romantic tale despite being on familiar ground. The plot, had clichés and predictable twists, surprisingly blossoms into a fulfilling narrative, leaving viewers with a warm afterglow.

The gradual unfolding of romance between the socially awkward yet talented manga artist, Karibe, and the lovable Aiko forms the essence of the story. The initial focus on Aiko's dating adventures injects a refreshing dose of humor, effectively balancing the tone between laughter and romance. What makes the drama particularly endearing is the incorporation of family dynamics, especially the presence of Karibe's adorable nephew, serving as a catalyst that brings the couple closer.

While Renai Mangaka isn't immune to its flaws, such as a conveniently resolved conflict and an ending that takes a somewhat exaggerated turn in Karibe's transformation, the stellar performances of Suzuki Ryohei and Yoshioka Riho keep the audience invested. Ryohei's portrayal of the moody mangaka is exceptional, and Riho's sweet and smooth performance as Aiko adds a delightful layer to the narrative.

The drama had commendable pacing, well-handled story arcs, and the palpable chemistry between the leads. Despite its reliance on familiar elements, Renai Mangaka emerges as a quirky and entertaining addition to the romantic drama genre, offering a heartfelt and enjoyable viewing experience.

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Dropped 4/11
burhaa aadmi
2 people found this review helpful
Dec 16, 2021
4 of 11 episodes seen
Dropped 0
Overall 2.0
Story 2.5
Acting/Cast 2.0
Music 2.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

He's just a git

I really WANTED to like this Drama, but after 4/11 more than a third done, I had to drop it. I found the male lead character utterly unsympathetic. The synopsis described him as socially ill at ease, but he came across as just a plain garden variety git, so obsessed with the importance of his art that he actually viewed himself as being the centre of everyone else's universe, regardless of his lectures about equality. Throw in a "date and break up on my command" premise that was too ott for me even as a fan of offbeat J romocoms, and this one went in the bin, with no regrets.

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Completed
natsu desu
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 17, 2021
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

..LOVE IS SOMETHING TO DRAW..

..mou. . .I am not expecting this drama only revolves on making manga..

..I have no choice but to finish this, and poof. . .yeah it's a love story after all..

..and how the male protagonist gets his idea to make story in his manga is a must-watch..

..but I still love the drama with a punch of comedy too..

..I also love the ost of the drama - song from BiSH (zenshin zenrei) and Sato Chiaki (kataware)..

..as an artist too, I do appreciate this kind of genre, knowing that they include real artist to drama the manga part, even the publication on the magazine that's why I watch this series with no hesitation..

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Renai Mangaka (2021) poster

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  • Score: 7.8 (scored by 1,090 users)
  • Ranked: #3424
  • Popularity: #4356
  • Watchers: 3,164

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